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for example I have heard that if you can see the cloud of dust from stack, outlet dust load should be more than 100mg/m3. is it true?
Is there any documented rules? is there any rule of thumb to relate dust load(mg/m3) to visual investigation?

dust - to what avail

Sobh bakheyr, dear Mrs. Mohandes,

"visual" would be related to a "personal" interpretation and thus might be biaised from underlying intentions. So I don't think one should use such equations as 100 mg/m³ = visible = actionable, even if proposed somewhere.
However, even if related to industry, relevant rulings, legislation or other might come from several directions, where i think it to be difficult to generalize. Also, "dust", even in industrial environment, is so very broad a denomination.. what kind of dust, which concentration, which space to be filled, which lighting etc. etc.
i think it would be good to refine the request and propose as following:

a) dust as a potential explosion hazard
b) dust as a potential harm to the health of employees
c) dust as a potential harm to environment
d) dust as a cost factor
...

to a), the applicable legislation is to be set by the operator of the site, e.g. ATEX or NFPA
to b), there we might e.g. refer to OSHA or local legislation
to c), if not considering a general human responsibility to protect a sound environment, surely there's local legislation, or should be
to d), well, there's Martin being a very good reference and you being seated in the first place ;-) might even receive some additional direct input

I'm sure that in any regulation, one shall always find that a dust load, if hazardous, is to be measured in a referencable, documentable and thus technical way.

Kind regards
R.

Last edited by Roland Heilmann; 21st March 2017 at 6:51.
Reason: amended content

measurement of dust

Asr Bekheyr Roland ,

Regarding to Martin Foundations, there are several ways for dust measurement, which one is:

Visual Opacity Readings
A visual opacity reading is performed by a trained licensed inspector who observes the area for a set amount of time and documents the amount of visible dust in the air.....page. 287

I would like to know how a trained licensed inspector documents the amount of dust? how the inspector trained? is there any text book?

doubt to dust

Dear Mrs. Mohandes,

with all due respect to Martin Engineering as well as the achievements in US technology... but i.m.o. there is a need to analyze this deeper!

Effective doubt on my side: I hold this specific country to rather obey "market rules" meaning financial interest than to protect the environment. I hold also that if it is required to assess dust clouds, then the only correct way to do it is to measure the physical parameters rather than to abide by human perception and judgement. Simplified & purely from a practical p.o.v. I think if there's a cloud of dust where it should not be, then it's time to do some measurement. It's the engineer in my head: as well as i can't see "stress" in a piece of steel my ( ;-) human ) senses do not tell me enough to assess "a cloud of dust".

As i said... you seem to be well placed with Martin E. (or they should be, say, be able to express some gratitude??), so perhaps you simply approach (if technically speak legally possible) them for deeper insight or a copy of relevant regulation.

All above expresses my personal views and does not intent to hurt anyones feelings or professional pride / achievements.